STAFF RESOURCES

Preservation Committee: Charge

The Rutgers University Libraries have taken some major steps in planning for a preservation program for
the library system. The Preservation Planning Committee produced its report,
Reinvestment In Knowledge:
Preservation of Library Materials in the Rutgers University Libraries in May 2001, and the two
preservation consultants' reports by Paul Conway (February 2002) and Mona Jimenez (December 2003). We
have made important progress since these reports were issued but funding and staffing for preservation
still remain major problems to developing an effective preservation program.

The Libraries are now establishing a standing committee on Preservation, reporting to the Associate
University Librarian for Collection Development and Management and the Collection Development Council.
The general charge for the committee is:

To provide systemwide oversight of preservation activities and promote awareness about preservation
issues within the Libraries.

In addition there is a specific, near-term charge. The Libraries are now beginning to formulate its next
five-year plan and it is important that preservation be an important component of that plan. This
committee will help in this process by developing a five-year plan for preservation. The first steps of
this activity will be:

Review the Preservation Planning Report* and the consultant=s report. Note what progress has been made since the various reports were written.

Prioritize recommendations in the areas of staffing, facilities, technology, workflow, funding, and organization.

The committee membership shall have systemwide representatives with appropriate knowledge and expertise.